'The Artist' director Michel Hazanavicius

Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

"The Artist" director thanked filmmaker Billy Wilder three times in his acceptance speech, but backstage at the Oscars, the best director winner said he would have thanked him "thousands of times" if he could. "He's the perfect director. He's the soul of Hollywood," Hazanavicius said of the "Some Like It Hot" and "Sunset Boulevard" filmmaker.

"The Artist" director thanked filmmaker Billy Wilder three times in his acceptance speech, but backstage at the Oscars, the best director winner said he would have thanked him "thousands of times" if he could. "He's the perfect director. He's the soul of Hollywood," Hazanavicius said of the "Some Like It Hot" and "Sunset Boulevard" filmmaker. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

"The Artist" director thanked filmmaker Billy Wilder three times in his acceptance speech, but backstage at the Oscars, the best director winner said he would have thanked him "thousands of times" if he could. "He's the perfect director. He's the soul of Hollywood," Hazanavicius said of the "Some Like It Hot" and "Sunset Boulevard" filmmaker.